Fatal shooting of teen was gang-related

A teenage girl was fatally shot and three others were injured in Morgan Hill Friday evening in a case that troubles neighbors and detectives.

Detectives say four teenagers were innocent bystanders -- hanging out on a typical Friday night -- when they were randomly shot by a rifle.

Tara Romero, 14, was shot to death while hanging out with friends on a grassy hillside near the Village Avante Apartments where a memorial now stands. Three other teens that were with Romero were also shot.

One of those teens remains in a medically-induced coma.

"We don't believe that they targeted them specifically," said Capt. Jerry Neumayer with the Morgan Hill Police Department. "They just came by and just randomly shot (them) using a rifle."

Police say they believe the shooting was gang-related.

According to authorities, a car full of Sureno gang members drove up Cosmo Avenue Friday evening and started firing at the four teens when they reached Del Monte. The teens had just left a birthday party at the complex.

Police found the suspects -- four adults and one 17-year-old juvenile -- at an apartment less than a mile from the crime scene.

One witness, who did not want to be identified, said she was afraid for her family and for everyone who lives in her apartment complex.

Police say homicides are fairly rare in Morgan Hill, with the last one being in 2009. That homicide was also gang-related.